Career Services
Durick Hall
Helpful Informational Interviewing Sites:
Informational Interviewing 101
It never hurts to go out and ask! If there's a career you think you're interested in, find a person who's doing it, and get some information! While your first priority is not a job interview, informational interviews can very often lead to job referrals.
Guidelines for Informational Interviewing:
- Write or call to set up an appointment rather than simply walking in unannounced.
- Your objective should be to meet your contacts in person. Be polite. Don't think jobs--think information.
- Dress appropriately and prepare yourself as you would for a job interview.
- Talk to everyone. Ask them how they arrived at where they are. Ask them who you should meet. Make a positive impression.
- Always ask: "If you were in my position, what would you do next?"
- At the close of every meeting, ask for additional names of people to meet.
- Follow up every lead. If someone gives you a name, be sure to make the contact and then get back to the source.
- Send thank you letters within 24 hours of all meetings.
- When you accept a job and are settled, let your network know where you are and what you are doing.
Develop a list of questions ahead of time and carry
them and a notebook with you to your interviews. Most people like to talk
about their jobs, especially if they enjoy them. If you talk with someone
who seems less than enthusiastic about what she/he does, try to discover
why. Take a look at some sample questions!
Here are some sample
Informational Interview Questions
